DISNEY’S ACQUISITION OF STAR WARS: 12 YEARS OF PROGRESS AND CONTROVERSY
On October 30, 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm, including the Star Wars franchise, for $4.05 billion. This move marked a significant shift in the Star Wars universe, leading to a mix of successful and divisive projects. Since the acquisition, Disney has produced several Star Wars films, including the sequel trilogy, which, despite its strong start, faced controversies and declining popularity.
The acquisition also led to the creation of successful TV shows, such as ‘The Mandalorian,’ which served as a flagship series for Disney+ and drove significant subscriber growth. However, not all projects were successful; the anthology movie ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ failed at the box office, leading to the discontinuation of the anthology project. While exact profit figures are not publicly available, the Star Wars franchise has undoubtedly been highly profitable for Disney through movies, merchandise, licensing, and tie-ins.
As part of the acquisition, Disney obtained detailed treatments for the next three Star Wars films from George Lucas. However, it’s important to note that the existence of complete sequel trilogy scripts by Lucas is not confirmed. The acquisition ensured the continuation of Star Wars as a prominent franchise, with Disney’s involvement guaranteeing a steady stream of content.
Disney’s commitment to expanding the Star Wars universe has led to the development of various projects across different media platforms. While some of these projects, like the continuation of existing animated series, have been well-received by fans, the specifics of each project’s development and reception vary. The company’s strategy has focused on leveraging the Star Wars brand to create diverse content appealing to both longtime fans and new audiences.
Overall, Disney’s acquisition of Star Wars has resulted in significant changes to the franchise, bringing both new opportunities and challenges. The company’s approach to managing this iconic property continues to evolve, balancing fan expectations with the need for innovation and financial success in the entertainment industry.
Filipino Translation:
Dahil na rin sa acquisition na 'yon, nagkaroon ng mga successful na TV shows tulad ng 'The Mandalorian,' na naging flagship series ng Disney+ at nakapagpadami ng mga subscribers. Pero hindi lahat ng projects ay naging successful. Yung anthology movie na 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' nag-flop sa box office, kaya natigil na rin yung anthology project na yun. Kahit wala namang exact numbers na nilabas tungkol sa profits, wala nang duda na sobrang laki pa rin ng kinita ng Star Wars franchise para sa Disney—mula sa movies, merchandise, licensing, at iba pang tie-ins.
As part ng acquisition, nakuha rin ng Disney yung mga detailed treatments para sa susunod na tatlong Star Wars films mula kay George Lucas. Pero, 'di confirmed kung talagang meron nang complete scripts para sa sequel trilogy from Lucas mismo. Ang importante, nakuha ng Disney ang chance na ituloy ang gamit sa Star Wars bilang isang bigating franchise, at sigurado na mas maraming content pa ang ilalabas nila.
Commitment talaga ng Disney na palakihin pa ang Star Wars universe, kaya nag-develop sila ng iba't ibang projects across multiple media platforms. Yung iba sa mga projects, tulad ng mga continuing animated series, sobrang okay naman ang reception sa mga fans, pero syempre iba-iba pa rin yung natatanggap ng bawat project. Dahil dito, yung strategy nila ay gamiting mabuti yung Star Wars brand para makagawa ng diverse content na makakakuha ng attention ng both long-time fans at new audiences.
In general, ang pagbili ng Disney sa Star Wars nagresulta sa malaking pagbabago sa franchise, na nagdala ng maraming bagong opportunities pero may challenges din. Patuloy pa rin ang approach ng Disney sa pag-manage ng iconic na property na ito, habang binabalanse nila yung fan expectations at yung need for innovation at financial success sa entertainment industry.
Disney purchased Star Wars 12 years ago today for over $4 billion, but was it worth it? was first published here.